Molly peered through the binoculars at the bouncy castle deflating in the backyard. Streamers fluttered from every available surface, and a piñata shaped like a unicorn swayed ominously in the breeze. "Six-year-old's birthday party. Prime target," she whispered. Bill adjusted his tactical vest, which he'd spray-painted with glitter to blend in. His face bore the grim determination of a man who'd spent three hours studying YouTube balloon animal tutorials. "Roger that. Operation Cake Snatcher is a go." They crept along the hedge, past a dad who'd fallen asleep clutching a juice box. The present table gleamed with wrapped packages—their holy grail. Molly's eyes narrowed as she spotted the security: a golden retriever wearing a party hat. "Guard dog at two o'clock," Bill hissed. "That's a clock, Bill. The dog's at ten." The retriever wagged its tail and trotted over, demanding belly rubs. Their meticulously crafted plan hadn't accounted for this. Molly produced emergency bacon from her utility belt while Bill army-crawled toward the presents. A child's shriek pierced the air. "STRANGER DANGER!" Twenty kindergarteners turned their sugar-fueled attention to Bill, who froze mid-crawl, one hand reaching for a box wrapped in dinosaur paper.